Drayton Entertainment was honoured at the greater Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence awards for hospitality and tourism at a gala ceremony held at Bingemans in Kitchener Feb. 19.
“Building great relationships produces great business transactions,” said artistic director of Drayton Entertainment Alex Mustakas, upon receipt of the award to an audience of 1,000.
“This core philosophy is not only true to our organization, but also the Region of Waterloo, which has built an impressive reputation as an ideal place to work, live, and of course, play.”
Drayton Entertainment was recognized for its efforts in connecting culture to economic development. The Ontario Tourism Regional Economic Impact Model has estimated the theatre company’s regional impact on visitor spending, including food, accommodation, recreation, and entertainment to be $35 million each year.
The organization was also cited for its contribution to the development of the creative industry capacity within the Region of Waterloo.
The business excellence awards gala was established to recognize those businesses which have made exceptional contributions through community involvement and leadership. Businesses and entrepreneurs are nominated and recognized in 12 award categories.
“Our goal is to enhance the cultural life of the community while simultaneously benefiting the local economy,” said Mustakas. “This award is a testament to everyone involved with our organization – staff, artists, sponsors, donors, and most importantly, our loyal audience.”
The gala is one of the region’s premiere events. The hospitality and tourism award is presented annually to an outstanding business or organization that has achieved excellence by increasing awareness of the greater K-W area through tourism promotion, exceeding customer expectations, and demonstrating measurable success and ensured sustainability in the tourism industry.
